Proposed Debate Procedures

1. One side, selected at random, will begin by nominating a willing editor who is associated with a large publisher. (A large publisher is defined as one with annual sales of more than 10 million U.S. dollars.) The other side can either accept that nomination or propose a different editor-publisher combination. This nomination process will continue until a side has received three nominations. Then, it must accept one, including the royalties and other contractual details offered by the publisher. (Royalties will be divided equally between the two sides.) The editor must have no strong opinions on the creation/evolution issue.

2. Companies specializing in book design will be asked to bid on all computer aspects of assembling an indexed, full-color book. The editor and each side of the debate will vote to select the book’s designer. Before the book is published, the publisher will pay the editor and the book’s designer. If the book is never published, neither the editor nor book’s designer will be paid.

3. Each side of the debate will make four submissions averaging no more than 100,000 words each. Submissions may include additional evidence and arguments, rebuttals, and corrections. Each picture, figure, graph, or sequence of equations will be considered the equivalent of 200 words. Submissions, in a computer-readable form, will be sent to the editor by email at four-month intervals. The first submission will be due four months after the editor is selected. The editor will delete from all submissions any religious ideas, unprofessional remarks, or comments that do not contribute to the debate’s intent. Within one month of receiving both submissions, the editor will simultaneously transmit both edited submissions to each side.

4. The editor will:

a. Make whatever rulings will help accomplish the debate’s purpose.

b. Resolve all procedural disagreements.

c. After consulting with each side, select the style manual to be followed and provide formatting and layout guidance to the book designer.

d. Collect a color photograph of each participant and a biographical sketch of 100–200 words.

e. Direct each side, if needed, to address the more important unanswered points made by the other side, to include new issues raised during the last submission.

f. Terminate the debate if, in his or her opinion, one side is not participating adequately.

g. Organize and edit the final written product.

h. Write the book’s preface, including a description of these agreements and whether both sides followed them.

i. List for the publisher all the book’s intended artwork, along with costs and copyright owners. The authors, operating within a budget established by the editor, are responsible for obtaining this information. The eventual publisher will purchase all artwork that is used, design the cover, and obtain an ISBN number and a Library of Congress number.

5. Outside parties who contribute significant ideas, data, or logic to the written product must be cited. Those who contribute substantially to the debate may become joint participants. However, the lead debater for each side, whose signature appears below, is responsible for integrating all viewpoints for his or her side into one coherent case.

6. One side may feel that the other has not adequately documented a claim. If, after consulting with each side, the editor agrees, either the documentation must be provided or the claim withdrawn.

7. One side may feel that the other has quoted an authority out of context. If the editor concurs and the quotation is not qualified or removed, the editor may add a comment.

8. If both sides have difficulty finding certain references cited by the other side, the editor will direct that each side provide specific documents to the other. The editor, after considering the number and costs involved, will balance the burden placed on each side.

9. Each side will be allowed four extensions of one month each. The side requesting the extension must notify the editor and the other side as soon as possible but at least seven days before the submission is due.

10. If one side withdraws from the debate, as confirmed and explained in writing by the editor, the other side will have exclusive rights to publish any or all of the partially completed debate. The remaining side can include in the final published document the submission it was working on at the time of the withdrawal.

11. Within one month after receiving the fourth submission, each side can notify the editor if it feels new issues were raised in that submission. If the editor agrees, he or she may permit responses to those new issues.

12. Each side is encouraged to correct errors in its case. Corrections or deletions of previous arguments are allowed if they do not exceed that submission’s word limit. If, however, a correction is suggested by an opponent’s rebuttal, that error can be changed only as described in paragraph 13 below.

13. One month after the fourth submission has been made and all new issues have been answered, each side can propose that certain of its arguments be deleted or modified. This “bartering process” between debaters is intended to aid the reader by eliminating, in balanced fashion, earlier statements that are superfluous or inaccurate, or have been effectively rebutted. The editor will try to facilitate the bartering process.

14. The final form of the written debate should be as clear and readable as possible, so that readers can easily study and contrast opposing arguments. Therefore, after the fourth submission, the editor will direct each side to gather into one coherent argument any scattered arguments dealing with a narrow topic. No new ideas can be added in this revision. The completed written debate will be in the format directed by the editor and will include, as far as possible, the evidence and arguments placed side by side and point by point. It will consist of two main parts: (a) the evolution case with the creation rebuttals placed directly below each argument, and (b) the creation case with the evolution rebuttals placed directly below each argument. The book will begin with the shorter of the two cases.

15. One month after revisions are submitted, the editor will send a complete manuscript to each side along with a reasonable deadline for submitting final comments. After the editor finalizes the book, the publisher associated with the editor will have the “first right of refusal” to publish the written debate. If the publisher declines, each side may publish the debate or sell the publishing rights. Printed copies of the debate must contain the entire debate in final form, including the editor’s preface.

16. The two debaters, by mutual consent, can modify this agreement.

[INITIAL IF APPROPRIATE] I wish to propose a change to the above procedures (1-16). However, I am willing to have the editor decide the matter after my opponent and I have presented our positions. I will abide by this ruling and participate in the written debate. My proposals are attached.

[Signed and dated by the principal debater for each side. List name, address, phone and FAX numbers, and email address.]